California Yet Again

1. Last weekend we flew to Southern California to celebrate the life of James' grandfather, Mel. Mel Pierce was almost 92 when he passed, and left a legacy and family I am honored to now share. Rhyan and Bill picked us up from the airport and we had a sleepover at their house the first night. Rhyan and us at Sidecar Doughnuts in Costa Mesa is a check off our to-do list. 2. The most incredible doughnuts I've ever had. 3. We spent lots of time with family--I met cousins, saw some I met briefly at our wedding, talked with each other about grandpa's life, shared memories, and sang together too. This is Matt, an amazing artist, married to James' cousin Amy. He painted while we spent time at the beach together. 4. James and I soaking up some sun. We try and make the ocean and sun a priority when in California. Something we'll get a lot of come September when we pack everything up and drive there for good.

Yup, you read that right.

Around Our House

1. I went on a walk through the park on the hill above our house. These lady slipper wildflowers are straight out of a storybook--like most of New England really. I also found some Lily-of-the-Valley, which I harvested and promptly plunked in a mason jar at home (see 3). 2. The view from the top of our hill, Boston in the background. 3. My day today, I spent the whole morning at home drinking coffee and working on a skirt made of this fabric for my trip to Japan. I'll post those once it is finished! I walked to the Post Office this afternoon, got a new passport photo taken, and mailed in our marriage certificate with everything else to update my passport. Can I go tomorrow please?

Kelly Wedding

1. The bridesmaids and I at Amber and Cliff's rehearsal. I had a blast with these lovely women this weekend, such a blessing to share my sister with them. She has amazing friends and is marrying into a family of incredible women. 2. It poured warm spring rain for about an hour that night, and tiny Weston Kelly was enamored. My sister would never miss a chance to play in the rain with this boy. 3. What a wonderful weekend spent with family. My heart is full after good time with my parents. I love this picture of my dad and I the afternoon we were helping set up. 4. A quiet moment--I love these two together. The way they listen to each other, work together, and celebrate. They just fit together you know? I'm excited to see their future unfold.  

April Staycation

1. New York! There is more magic each time we visit this city. Always something new, always one more thing we must experience. Mikey (see wedding pictures, he's the tallest) gave us a new tour through Central Park, and we walked from there to Union Square. Given that I have to take twice the steps to keep up with him, you can say my legs were a little sore. 2. The Strand Bookstore, in Union Square, is a perfect haven of great books--I'm enthralled, can you tell? 3. This week Boston has me gaping at the spring blossoms and lime green leaves on trees. 4. Our dear friend Zach visited from San Antonio last week for April vacation. We adore him and it was such a joy to have him stay with us, to reconnect, and we had a blast. Breweries were visited, he saw almost every state in New England, experienced everything Boston, and we ate all the good food. They even made it to the Patriot's Day Red Sox game. 5. James and Pepper Lane--isn't she beautiful? Of all the amazing things we visit in New York when we go, she's our favorite.

Change in the Air

1. I went to Pittsburgh last weekend to celebrate my sister's wedding and throw her a shower. It was lovely to spend time with her, her friends, and her future family. 2. The shower favors I made with help from my friend Cristina, who lives in Pittsburgh. It was such a blessing to my heart to pop down to her house for a few hours and catch up in person. 3. My running shoes--I've actually used them a few times a week for about three weeks now. Doing a 5K next Sunday! 4. James and I drove out to the coast to get some sunshine and air. We're currently in the midst of transition and wondering what the future holds.

A Little More Spring

1. I've rediscovered leeks in my cooking this week. They are everything bright and lovely. 2. Little signs of spring are popping up in the garden at James' school and the sun feels warm when I walk to the train. 3. Mung beans, they're great! Tiny and green they made the filling for 4. Goyza dumplings I made this week to celebrate that in five months I'll be on my way to JAPAN to visit Laurel. How lovely it is to think and talk about all the adventures we'll have together when I'm there. 

Two weeks with my bestie and her most beautiful daughters. I am the most happy. 

Spring is a Magical Season

1. New cell phone that connects me to the world and my best of friends. 2. New nephew on the quilt I made for him, he is so small here even now, just a month later. 3. Planning my sister's bridal shower, which is coming up this next week. Love her to pieces and can hardly wait to celebrate her.

4. This just in--we bought a car! On a rainy day we drove out to test drive this 2009 Subaru Outback (read heated leather seats, turbo engine, new tires, brand new engine, moon roof, and a pretty face) and before the test drive was over we knew we wanted it. We signed papers, named him Nigel, and have been jumping for joy ever since. I'm incredibly thankful for a husband who does all the research, asks all the questions, knows all the details, and looks at every option. This car has been a long time of saving, budgeting, and searching. Our family feels more complete.

But that Judah though, can we talk about how sweet he is?!

California Land Of My Heart

It was hard to come back. 

When The Mr. Is Away

This week James is on a service trip to the Dominican Republic (read awesome weather, sunshine, and adventure) and I'm home, at work most of the time (read having fun with my friends and loving my job) and keeping myself busy with cleaning, projects, and books. I've been working on a few side editing projects and soul searching about what is next on that front. I've been turning this idea of freelance, and building myself an editing/consulting business where I work from awesome coffee shops all day. What do you think? 

A Week With the Boys-- and Snow!

We had our first real New England snowstorm (here, big is 1-2 feet, this Sierra Nevada girl rolls her eyes). James and I house-sat/kid-sat for the Hudson's this week--Tuesday and Wednesday were both snow days for everyone. For big storms in Boston they shut down the schools, public transportation, and put driving bans in effect so everyone is forced to stay home.

I'm not complaining.

We had two restful and fun days at home--made good food, sat by the fire, played in the snow a bit, watched movies, played card games, and even had a few games of hide and seek in the house. It was definitely a blast and at the same time I was thankful to get back to real life on Wednesday.

A week living with three boys has been--interesting. At times I have felt completely outnumbered and I have no idea what they are even talking about, and at other times they are all so helpful I feel blessed to spend time with them. Tickle fights, competitions, video games, noises--you get it. Sometimes I just shake my head and walk away.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The lack of posting here comes from the desire to re-do, revamp, change, move, redesign, my blog. Feeling the need for something a little more grown up now that I've graduated. (!!) Though I'm also torn because I've been writing here for years and I've never regretted keeping everything in the same place. It is a treasure to wander back to my Oxford entries still--and I'm always finding out about new people who have continued to read my entries that I had no idea actually still read them.

Thanks for sticking with me--and know that I already have a few more in the works.